Rex Ryan and Jets Agree on Multiyear Contract Extension

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan entered the 2013 season with his job hanging by a thread, but his team performed well above expectations, and he is now being rewarded with a multiyear contract extension, the team confirmed on Thursday:

Full terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, although ESPN.com is reporting that it is based heavily on incentives, which would be triggered in the event of postseason victories.

Although the Jets missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year under Ryan, they finished 8-8 against all odds. New York's defense continued to progress, and it often had to pick up the slack for a moribund offense led by rookie quarterback Geno Smith.

The 8-8 finish marked the Jets' fourth .500 season or better in five years under Ryan. The extension seems like a vote of confidence, but Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post suggests that Ryan will have to lead the Jets to the postseason in 2014 to see it through:

Reported extension for Rex is the right thing to do, but I can't see him keeping his job beyond 2014 if the Jets don't make the playoffs.

After coaching Gang Green to the AFC Championship Game in both 2009 and 2010, Ryan was regarded as one of the NFL's top coaches. That perception changed as the Jets plummeted to a 6-10 record in 2012, but Ryan received high marks this season for what he was able to accomplish with a dismal offense.

Will Rex Ryan be fired if the Jets miss the playoffs in 2014?

Yes, despite the extension, he has very little job security.No, the extension is a sign that Ryan is their guy over the long haul.Submit Votevote to see results

Will Rex Ryan be fired if the Jets miss the playoffs in 2014?

Yes, despite the extension, he has very little job security.

53.1%

No, the extension is a sign that Ryan is their guy over the long haul.

46.9%

Total votes: 3,644

Making the playoffs is almost always the expectation in New York, but that wasn't necessarily the case entering 2013. Ryan and the Jets surprised a lot of people, and New York general manager John Idzik was extremely complimentary of the job Ryan did, per Marc Sessler of NFL.com.

"To finish the way we did, in our estimation, a playoff-type atmosphere for us, guys responded," Idzik said. "Suffice it to say, we're very happy with Rex as our coach."

For Ryan and the Jets to take the next step in 2014, though, Idzik needs to make some waves. New York ranked No. 31 in passing yardage and No. 29 in scoring, which means that Smith clearly needs some weapons around him.

The Jets hold the No. 18 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, and the success of that selection could very well mean the difference between Ryan coaching the team in 2015 or coaching elsewhere.